On Saturday 4 July 2015, four of our members were at the CYA Conference in Brisbane. One of them conducted a master class for children's book writers, one received a 3rd place in the Hatchling Illustration category, and all of us listened and learned a lot in a very short space of time.

These photographs were taken by Peter Allert, the official conference photographer, and a well respected illustrator in his own right.

After the competition winners were announced we started the day with three publishing success stories, two from writers and one from an illustrator. Then we discovered what it takes to keep an agent's and publisher's attention beyond the first page of a manuscript. From there we sat at the feet of Paul Collins of Ford Street Publishing and had a mini masterclass in marketing children's books. Ben Long walked us through his self-publishing experiences in printing and selling two picture books. Jacqui Honeywood took us through the strategic side of blogging, and an extended masterclass with Morris Gleitzman on what makes a story worth telling wrapped up the day.

It was a lot of information to take in, so I will be typing up my notes from each session on a more or less weekly basis. Digesting them at that slower rate makes them easier to absorb and put into practice. CBHunCC members will get them through the Yahoo feed. However, if anyone else would like to be on the email list for those conference notes, send your request through the Contact page.

And for our illustrators, some inspiration comes from the text of a talk Helena Fox Dunan gave at an art exhibition opening about the process of creativity, art and storytelling. http://here-now-this.tumblr.com/post/116062251965/last-night-i-spoke-at-the-opening-of-an-art. Here is a quotation to whet your appetite for more: "The moment you make art, you are saying your story counts. No matter who sees the marks you make—even if it’s simply your cat, or members of your family, or trusted friends—you are telling the precious tale of yourself."